The Local Health District (LHD) provides medical services to far west NSW, including Broken Hill.

The board received a letter, seen by the ABC, from the ministry in August, which said the review would not be released to members, in part because it had found a poor relationship between the board and LHD chief executive Stuart Riley.

"The final report … identifies a breakdown in the relationship between the board and the chief executive that is impacting on the overall good governance of the district," NSW Health secretary Elizabeth Koff wrote.

"It is therefore important that the report be provided to the Minister for her consideration, and for the ministry to consider these issues, prior to any further action, including providing the report to the board, [being] taken."

The four removed board members have written to Health Minister Jillian Skinner rejecting that finding.

"This was simply not true," the letter, signed by the four, states.

The letter states the board had a "positive working relationship between the chief executive and the majority of board members, [which was] reflected in continued positive performance appraisals from the Ministry of Health".

However, the removed directors said there was tension between board chairman Tom Hynes and the chief executive, but they were replaced before they could communicate their concerns to the ministry.

The LHD, Mr Hynes and Ms Skinner declined to comment on the specific situation, or clarify whether the report would ultimately be released.

However, they have previously said the replacement of directors was standard procedure conducted every few years, and that the board needed downsizing.

Local MP not consulted

MP for Barwon Kevin Humphries defended the sacked board members, and said he was confident they had been doing a good job before their removal.

Mr Humphries said he had asked for more details about the decision.

"They're all eminent people, and I'm sure that they were doing a good job," Mr Humphries said.

"Some of them I know personally, and I guarantee you they were doing a good job.

"So on one hand it's a bit untidy, but I'd like to see a bit more detail, which I've asked for from the Minister's office."

Mr Humphries said he had not been consulted before the board members were replaced with time still to serve.

"If we were consulted possibly prior to this decision being made, it might've been a little bit different, I don't know," he said.